When Buffett was born in 1930 the world population was essentially 2 billion; it is now 8 billion.

There are two figures: world population in 1930 ('essentially 2 billion') and world population at the time of the statement in May 2024 ('8 billion'). Use standard demographic estimates (UN World Population Prospects, US Census Bureau, or recognised historical estimates). TRUE: the 1930 estimates fall roughly in the 1.9–2.2 billion range, and the 2024 population is roughly 7.8–8.3 billion. MOSTLY TRUE: one figure is slightly outside these ranges (e.g., 1930 at 2.3 billion), but the overall picture of roughly a fourfold increase holds. MIXED: one figure is clearly correct and the other is clearly off. MOSTLY FALSE: both figures are noticeably off, but the general direction and size of growth are still broadly right. FALSE: the figures are wrong outright (e.g., 1930 population near 1 or 3 billion, or the current population far from 8 billion).

Set before the research began.

1. E1 Growing or shrinking? What the latest trends tell us about the world’s population UN News (United Nations) · 11 July 2024

   “The global population reached nearly 8.2 billion by mid-2024 and is expected to grow by another two billion over the next 60 years”

E2 (UN News) puts world population at nearly 8.2 billion by mid-2024. That falls within the 7.8–8.3 billion range the criteria set for the current-population figure. None of the evidence gives a world population estimate for 1930, which is the main part of the claim. With only one of the two required figures supported, the claim cannot be resolved under the criteria.